We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriela Oltean a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gabriela, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
As a model for many years, and now a Photographer for the last seven years, I realize that I have a personal connection with my subjects given the fact that I am able to channel their position in front of the lens the way I’ve done it myself with the famed photographers I was lucky to work with. And since my subjects vary from starting new models to experienced ones, women in business positions, actors, influencers and individuals who come to me for branding, I discovered that I am able to contribute in delivering the best images because I’m able to coach them while I photograph. So I like to consider myself if you would- a model whisperer, paying forward everything that I’ve learned in my successful career in front of the camera.
Gabriela, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Photography is a result of my absolute devotion to fashion and art throughout my life. I also graduated from UCLA Interior design school, and that to me was a great foundation to solidify my art knowledge and shape my aesthetics I have today. I am a Los Angeles based photographer, offering a range of services from photography to concept developing, art direction and styling. I love creating timeless and emotion fueled images in fashion, beauty and commercial photography.
Being on a set for me, it is my favorite state of being. I love creating magic behind the lenses, getting involved in the creative process as a part of the team who hires me or I hire.
My gift of guiding and directing my subjects comes from my desire to pay forward what I’ve learned in my experience as an international career model and showing a shorter cut to achieve successful poses and confidence in front of a still or video camera.
It took me years to reach a level where I could juggle with any type of poses and the way I learned it was just by working, testing and being on different sets, in different markets, from Paris, New York, Tokyo, Milano, Los Angeles to name a few.
I wish though I had someone to show me the shortcuts at the time or “how to” ,instead, I was disciplined and persevered to become very good at what I do. I don’t wanna say I did not fail many times.
How did you build your audience on social media?
On social media primarily on Instagram, I have two separate accounts, one as a photographer @thebrokenduchess and one as a model @gabbyjohansson , and although I keep them separate, I find that often convey a message by cross pollinating between the 2 accounts.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is to create a community of women and not only a platform, where we can gather and share our love for fashion, branding, and build an appropriate persona for our output in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebrokenduchess.com/
- Instagram: @thebrokenduchess
- Facebook: Gabriela Oltean
Image Credits
Jake Lyle Valentina Socci Frank Tsai Eric Soboleski Brent Bailey Jake Lyle Brent Bailey Michelle Carmichael Eric Soboleski